Growing correas, an Aussie gem
2026-09-18T10:14:23+10:00
Correas are beautiful native plants and dependable, backbone shrubs that do the hard yards, and look good while they’re at it.
Correas may not be the flamboyant, look-at-me darlings of the garden, but these quiet achievers more than compensate with their versatility, resilience and wildlife value. True garden workhorses, they grow happily in sun or shade, and are suitable as informal hedges, border and understorey plants, leafy backdrops, rockery features, groundcovers and pot specimens. They are also mainstays of coastal and habitat plantings, where they provide the essential mid-layer that supports many of our smaller bird species.
Correas range from prostrate forms, such as spreading correa (C. decumbens), to the upright mountain correa (C. lawrenceana), which can reach 3–4m in cultivation. They occur across southern and eastern Australia, from temperate to subtropical climates.
Most correas produce small tubular or bell-shaped, nectar-rich flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, cream or green. The exception is white correa (C. alba) which flaunts open, star-shaped blooms, usually white but sometimes flushed with pink. There are only 11 species, but numerous forms and cultivars. Here’s one favourite:
COMMON CORREA (C. reflexa)
Common correa is extremely variable, ranging from low, spreading shrubs to upright forms reaching 2m – so check the plant label for its expected size and habit.
Small, textured leaves are accompanied by tubular flowers in green, cream, pink or red, sometimes with contrasting tips. It flowers over a long period, providing nectar for honeyeaters and insects when little else is blooming, and is useful as an informal hedge or understorey shrub.
The long-established C. reflexa x pulchella ‘Dusky Bells’ (pictured) grows 60cm–1m x 2–4m, and bears pink flowers. Other popular cultivars include ‘Federation Belle’, which grows to about 1.5m high and wide and has pink and green flowers.
Check out more of the most commonly grown correas, plus handy tips on growing and pruning, in our October issue. Get yours now!
Image: Shuttershock
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